1. In our day a great deal of anxiety is felt about the physical things of life.
2. Untold millions of dollars are spent learning how to prosper (College education, self help books, investment journals)
3. Then there is the pile of money spent on treating the anxiety caused by wealth
4. Jesus teaches the eradication of such anxiety by means of service to God
1) He says you cannot serve God AND money - Matthew 6:24
2) He teaches the great value of the individual to God - Matthew 6:25-26
3) He then teaches the utter futility of anxiety - Matthew 6:27
4) Then, the providential care of God - Matthew 6:28-30
5) He commands, Do not be anxious, Seek first the kingdom - Matthew 6:31-33
6) Finally, the benefit, “all these things shall be added unto you.”
5. We want to know, though, HOW God will add all these things to us
1) We’ve been properly taught that miracles have ceased, that they were for confirming the word (Mark 16:20) and that the word has been confirmed (Hebrews 2:3-4)
2) So HOW does God add all these things
1. God generally provides to all - Matthew 5:45
2. God is good to all (Psalm 145:9). The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works
3. Gives rain and fruitful seasons - Acts 14:17
4. God’s general providence is testimony to the fact that God is and He loves mankind
1. In the Roman empire of the 1st century it was scandalous for a free citizen to work - This required the public dole in Rome
2. God’s plan is for man to work for his bread - 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12
3. Work to provide for family - 1 Timothy 5:8
4. Work to give - Ephesians 4:28
1. Give and it shall be given unto you - Luke 6:38
2. Jesus was recipient - Luke 8:2-3; Matthew 27:55
3. This may partially explain - Mark 10:29-30
4. Why the great care for the Jerusalem church? Acts 11:28-30; Acts 2:44-45
1. Asking God
1) Give us this day our daily bread - Matthew 6:11
2) You do not have because you do not ask - James 4:2
3) Persistence in asking - Luke 18:1-5
2. Asking Men
1) Give to him that ask you - Matthew 5:42
2) Ask of brethren who are taught to give - Matthew 25:35-40
3) Rich, to be willing to distribute - 1 Timothy 6:17-19
4) Do good unto all men, especially of the household of faith - Galatians 6:10
1. Psalm 37:25 - "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread"
2. When God says that we not fret about our living here on earth, that we seek first the kingdom, we may believe that He has real plans as to how we are to be fed and clothed
3. Those means are more powerful than any amount of overtime you may work, or education you may gain, any amount of thrift you may employ
4. We should all see the wisdom:
1) In trusting God
2) In working for our living but not at the expense of putting the kingdom first
3) In being rich toward God and man in our giving
4) In asking God for our living, recognizing his providence and sovereignty
5) In asking the brethren when needed. I know this is extremely hard for some, but it may be part of God’s adding “all these things"
-- Don Treadway, December 2010 --
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